I Won’t Pick Up The T*ash I Threw Away Again - Chapter 65

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 4. Leilah Aster.

#65

The party was over, but its fervor hadn’t cooled even by the next day.

This was because Leilah’s story had spread like wildfire throughout the social circles.

While Leilah’s official declaration of breaking off her engagement to Fillen was shocking, what people talked about most was Kalian granting Leilah the title of baron.

“My goodness. Giving a title to a woman. Is His Majesty in his right mind?”

“They say when you’re blinded by love, you lose your sense of judgment. His Majesty probably wants to hide the fact that she’s his mistress, even if it means doing this.”

“That must mean he cherishes that princess that much?”

“Only Duke Williot ended up pitiful.”

Regardless of age or gender, everyone gossiped about Kalian and Leilah’s relationship. Stories about Fillen also came up here and there.

The fact that Leilah was Kalian’s mistress had solidified like an established truth.

Because of Kalian granting Leilah the title of baron, aristocrats had been gathering at the Giltian Duchy since early morning.

“This is outrageous!”

A young aristocrat excitedly slammed the table hard.

“Giving a title to a princess! Unless His Majesty has lost his mind, there’s no way he would do such a thing!”

“That’s right!”

Another aristocrat agreed, veins bulging in his neck.

“Let’s rush to His Majesty right now and tell him this absolutely cannot happen!”

“That won’t work.”

“How can you know that!”

“Because I already tried it.”

An aristocrat who had already met Kalian during the morning audience groaned and held his head with his hand.

“When I said this couldn’t be done, he threw the imperial law book in front of me.”

“The law book?”

“Yes. Telling me to find a reason why Leilah Tebesa shouldn’t be granted the title of baron.”

At those words, he had no choice but to quietly retreat without saying anything.

Because he already knew that no such law could be found even if he searched through the law book.

“So there’s no point in going and saying it can’t be done.”

“We should tell him it’s against custom, not law!”

“Custom alone can’t overturn an imperial decree. Rather, you’d be ridiculed for stubbornly bringing up old-fashioned customs, wouldn’t you?”

“Then what do we do! Are we just supposed to watch a woman hold a title!”

“That’s not what I meant…”

Bang-!

When Duke Giltian slammed down his cup, the noisy room instantly fell silent.

Everyone shut their mouths tight like clams and watched Duke Giltian’s mood.

Meanwhile, Duke Giltian calmly tilted the water pitcher to fill his empty cup.

The heavy silence that had settled was broken when Duke Giltian, who had been drinking water quietly, emptied his newly filled cup.

“Insisting on custom is certainly old-fashioned. But to break custom, there must be a proper reason.”

Duke Giltian’s gray eyes flashed ominously.

“For this matter, let’s decide what to do after hearing His Majesty’s excuses.”

* * *

Crack-

The practice dummy was smashed to pieces. The wooden sword Fillen was holding met the same fate.

Fillen carelessly threw away the broken wooden sword and grabbed a new one.

Beside him, broken wooden swords and dummies were piled up high.

“Bring a new dummy.”

At Fillen’s command, the servants quickly cleared away the broken dummy and brought a new one.

Fillen mercilessly struck the dummy again.

What was in front of him was an ordinary practice dummy that could be seen anywhere, but in Fillen’s eyes, it looked like Kalian.

That scoundrel with his pretty face who seduced Leilah using his authority as emperor!

He should have noticed when the management exam announcement clearly stated that women could also apply.

No, he should have used any means necessary to prevent Leilah from taking the management exam.

If he had done that, this disaster wouldn’t have happened.

He wouldn’t have lost Leilah to such a guy!

While he resented Leilah for falling for it completely, he hated Kalian more.

Not only did he shake Leilah’s heart using the advisor position as bait and induce her to break off the engagement, but he also humiliated him like that.

If only Kalian weren’t the emperor, he would have thrown a white glove in his face and challenged him to a duel.

But having to leave the banquet hall without being able to do anything was extremely irritating.

What’s so great about being an emperor!

“Damn it!”

Getting more heated the more he thought about it, Fillen muttered curses and swung his wooden sword hard.

With that strike, the newly brought practice dummy was smashed to pieces.

Not only that, but even the wooden sword handle, unable to withstand his strength, broke.

The fragments embedded in his palm, and blood flowed out profusely.

However, Fillen looked at his bleeding palm indifferently as if it didn’t hurt at all.

“A-are you alright! Your Grace!”

“Q-quickly, get a doctor!”

The servants nearby made a bigger fuss.

Fillen glared at the servants as if they were bothersome and grabbed his coat.

“Your Grace! The doctor is here, so please get treatment…!”

“I don’t need it.”

The servant hurriedly chased after Fillen, who immediately turned around.

“Where are you going! Your Grace!”

“To Leilah.”

While beating up the practice dummy, he had thought about it continuously, but it seemed better to talk with Leilah about this problem again.

Calmly, without getting excited like yesterday.

Only then could he hear Leilah’s true feelings.

Fillen didn’t think the words Leilah said yesterday were sincere.

Just as he had acted in anger, Leilah must have done the same.

So he needed to properly explain to Leilah what the problem was and persuade her to come back.

But why should I be the one explaining this?

When even if she begged to come back, I should be considering whether to accept her or not…!

“Hah.”

Fillen, who had stopped in place, let out a small breath and ran his hand through his hair.

The servant carefully spoke to him, watching his mood.

“W-wouldn’t it be better to get treatment first? Miss Leilah might get scared and run away if she sees that hand.”

At the servant’s words, Fillen looked at his injured hand. It certainly looked grotesque.

If it looked like this even to him, how much more so for Leilah.

“…Where’s the doctor?”

“This way.”

The servant, as if he had been waiting, guided Fillen to the drawing room where the doctor was waiting.

The doctor removed the wood fragments embedded in Fillen’s hand, sutured the torn wound, wrapped it with bandages, and said:

“The wound is deeper than expected, so it would be best to be careful for about a week.”

“Are you telling me not to use a sword?”

“If possible, that would be better.”

Telling a knight not to use a sword for a whole week.

It wasn’t a request I particularly liked, but I nodded for now.

“I’ll prescribe both topical medicine to prevent the wound from festering and oral medication.”

“You’ve done well.”

“I only did what was naturally required. Then I’ll take my leave.”

As soon as the doctor left, Fillen called for the butler.

“I’m going to Leilah. Prepare a horse. No, I’ll go to the stables myself.”

It would be terrible if he delayed any longer and Leilah went to work.

The day after a party usually meant afternoon work, so there was still time, but one never knew.

With his heart growing impatient, Fillen went directly to the stables, took out a horse, and immediately left the manor.

* * *

The fact that becoming the Emperor’s aide would grant a title was something I knew as well.

But for some reason, I never thought that would be me.

I didn’t even dare to hope for it.

Yet he’s granting me the rank of Baron.

I’m becoming a Baron.

My lips went dry at something I couldn’t have imagined even in my dreams.

A few days ago, when he suddenly asked me to choose words, it must have been because of this.

That meant he had been planning to grant me the baronetcy since then…

“You could have told me in advance.”

Then I could have at least prepared myself mentally.

Actually, even if I had prepared mentally, nothing would have changed.

Rather, if I had known beforehand, I likely would have been nervous and made mistake after mistake.

Still, this is too sudden.

And on top of that, the situation with Fillen and Andante has erupted…

“Sigh.”

They say bad things come in pairs, and those words were exactly right.

I licked my lips that were going dry from tension and gripped my plain skirt tightly.

I thought carefully about what to do going forward, but no answers came.

Instead, the more I thought, the more complicated my mind became.

…Should I deal with the Baron issue first?

That seemed like a good idea, so I prepared to go to the Imperial Palace and went downstairs.

“Miss?”

Sara, who had been moving busily in the kitchen, spotted Leilah and came running over.

“Where are you going?”

“To the Imperial Palace.”

“What? You said you were going to work in the afternoon today.”

“I was planning to, but it seems I need to go early.”

With the situation having turned out this way, I couldn’t leisurely wait at home until afternoon.

“Then please wait just a moment! I’ll call for a carriage.”

“It’s fine.”

I was thinking of walking to the Imperial Palace to help organize my complicated thoughts.

“Then I’ll be back.”

“Oh, Miss. I’m going to the market today – is there anything you need?”

“Not particularly.”

“Then I’ll buy what I think we need. Have a safe trip, Miss.”

I left the house with Sara’s send-off.

I was walking straight toward the Imperial Palace when I heard rough hoofbeats behind me. I naturally stepped aside to the shoulder.

But the hoofbeats stopped right behind me.

What?

Puzzled, I turned around and froze upon discovering someone I never expected.

“Are you on your way to the Imperial Palace?”

“Fillen…”

Why is he here?

No, after what happened yesterday, it’s natural that he would come looking for me.

I had expected it inwardly, but it was still bewildering nonetheless.

When Fillen dismounted and stood before me, I stepped back warily.

“…What brings you here, Your Grace?”

Fillen chuckled at my words.

“Your Grace? I can feel the distance.”

Of course you would. That’s what I intended.

“If you’re not busy, spare me a moment. I have something to discuss.”

“…What if I refuse?”

“Then I can’t help it.”

His mouth was smiling, but his golden eyes flashed dangerously.

He was seriously planning to take me by force if I refused.

Of course, if I resisted or screamed, it would draw attention from passersby, and even Fillen wouldn’t be able to do such a thing.

Instead, our affair would be splashed across tomorrow morning’s newspaper in huge headlines.

Our story would continue to be the subject of people’s gossip.

I wasn’t afraid of that, but I was worried that Kalian’s position might become awkward because of me.

I didn’t want to cause problems if possible.

“…I understand.”

After deliberating, I eventually accepted Fillen’s proposal.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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